Davina giggled along with Nate and Missy. Vero and Tack looked confused.
“You may sit down,” Mrs. Luckett told the boys.
Vero and Tack took their seats. Davina leaned over to Vero.
“I thought you sounded okay,” she whispered to Vero.
“Thanks,” Vero half-heartedly said, knowing she was only being nice.
“Danny Konrad, could you please stand and sing the few bars of the song?”
Danny stood. Tack elbowed Nate.
“This ought to be good,” Tack said in a low voice to Nate, who snickered.
Vero thought Danny looked uncomfortable as he put his hands into his pockets and fidgeted. He hesitated. Mrs. Luckett raised her conductor’s stick.
“On the count of three . . .”
She tapped her stick in the air three times, signaling Danny. He looked down at his feet, and began to sing, faintly, “Now I’ve heard there was a secret chord that David played . . .”
All murmurs in the class instantly dissipated as Danny sang Leonard Cohen’s lyrics. His voice was stellar. Vero exchanged surprised looks with Tack. Nate’s eyes practically popped out of his head. Davina gazed wistfully upon Danny.
“. . . And it pleased the Lord . . .”
As Danny sang, Mrs. Luckett placed the tip of her wand under his chin and raised his head. She smiled encouragingly to him. The bright-red coloring of his cheeks gradually disappeared the louder his voice grew. The class didn’t dare make any moves, afraid they would ruin the moment.
“. . . But you don’t really care . . .”
As Danny sang, Vero watched Davina as she looked upon Danny. His beautiful voice captivated her, yet there was a melancholic look in her eyes.
“. . . for music, do you?”
Once Danny stopped singing, there was an awkward silence. Then the class clapped and broke out into shouts and cheers. Danny’s face flushed red once again, and he cracked a smile. Vero turned to Davina.
“Did you know he could sing like that?”
Davina shook her head. “He doesn’t share anything with me anymore,” she sadly said.
Mrs. Luckett smiled to Danny. “You, my dear, will never be one of those annoying, ridiculous mimes.”
Tack and Vero exchanged offended looks. After music class let out, Vero caught up with Danny in the hallway.
“Dude, that was pretty amazing,” Vero said.
“Thanks,” Danny said.
“Davina thought it was great too,” Vero said, pulling Davina over by her arm.
“Oh, yeah, it was beautiful,” Davina said, awkwardly.
Danny held her gaze. He looked into her sparkling blue eyes. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve been a jerk to you lately . . .”
Davina’s face softened.
“I’m moving to Colorado.”
“Colorado?” Davina said, a mix of sadness and surprise on her face.
“In the summer,” Danny said. “I thought that if I was mean to you, somehow it would make leaving easier.”
“That’s dumb,” Davina said.
“I’m sorry,” Danny said, looking down.
“We’ll FaceTime each other every day, and my aunt and uncle live out there. We go every year for a visit. If your town isn’t too far away, I can come see you.”
“Really?” Danny’s face lit up.
Davina nodded. She turned to Vero. “You knew he was moving?”
“He did,” Danny answered. “Kind of freaked when I told him.”
“Yeah, well, it was unfair of me to make you feel bad for moving,” Vero said. “It’s just hard to lose a friend.”
Danny looked to Vero with a faint smile. “Thanks, Vero.”
The following Saturday afternoon, Tack’s parents drove everyone to the airport. Marty pulled the dented red minivan to the curb and turned off the engine.
“Okay, this is your terminal,” he said.
“I’ll get the bags,” Dennis said, getting out of the car.
Dennis walked behind the car and opened the back door. As he began pulling suitcases from the trunk, everyone else stepped out of the car and onto the curb. Marty walked over to Dennis and helped grab suitcases. Mary looked at Tack with tears forming in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, Mary,” Nora said as she hugged Tack’s mom. “We’ll take good care of him.”
“I know. It’s just so far . . .” Mary sniffled as they broke apart.
“It’s only a plane ride away, Mom,” Tack said.
“Actually, it’s four plane rides away,” Vero said. “New York, Zurich, Mumbai, then Sri Lanka.”
Mary burst into sobs. Tack flashed Vero a look over his mother’s shoulder as he hugged her. Vero felt guilty, and was glad Dennis finally had all the bags on the curb.
Dennis shook Marty’s hand. “My cell phone will work once we get over there.”
“I’ve got the number and the contact info for the hotel,” Marty answered.
A ding came from Clover’s jacket pocket. Dennis’s head whipped around.
“Did you bring your cell phone?” Dennis asked.
Clover pulled her cell phone from her pocket.
“Clover, I said to leave that home,” Dennis said, annoyed. “Do you have any idea how expensive it is to make international calls or to surf the net abroad?”
“You’re bringing yours,” Clover protested.
“That is a World Bank phone, not mine!”
“I’ll hold on to it till you get back,” Marty said, holding out his hand to Clover.
Clover huffed then handed over her phone.
“And remember only drink bottled water,” Mary told Tack, fixing his collar. “And that includes even when brushing your teeth.”
“Okay, Mom,” Tack said.
“Oh, don’t go anywhere without sunscreen on. Sri Lanka is very close to the equator,” Mary said. “And no eating salads that haven’t been washed with purified water, and eat only thoroughly cooked meat, and no shellfish . . .”
“All right, Mary,” Marty said, nudging her toward the car. “Dennis and Nora know what to do.”
“And I read you’re not allowed to take photos in any of the Buddhist shrines,” Mary told Tack, ignoring her husband. “And no exporting any wild animals or antiques older than fifty years . . .”
“Really, Mom?” Tack said, rolling his eyes.
“And one more thing,” Clover said. “No annoying Clover.”
“Yes.” Mary smiled, though it was wobbly. “No annoying Clover.”
Mary grabbed Tack again and hugged him tightly. She then let go and grabbed Vero and Clover and hugged them too. As Marty hugged Tack, an airport policeman walked over to him.
“You’ve got to move your car,” the policeman told Marty.
“Yes, Officer,” Marty said, releasing Tack.
“And you’re allowed ten kilograms of tea duty-free,” Mary said to Tack as her husband opened the passenger’s door and guided her inside. “Bring me back some.”
“I don’t even know what a kilogram is.” Tack shook his head.
Marty shut Mary’s car door. He got in, and the Lelands and Tack waved good-bye as the car drove off.
The flight to New York took just under an hour. On the flight to Zurich, Vero sat by the window with Clover in the middle and Tack on the aisle. This was the flight Vero had been half dreading—they were in the row across from the bathroom.
“At least it’s convenient,” Tack said to Clover, who pulled the front of her shirt over her nose.
Nora and Dennis, as they’d said they would, sat up in business class.
Tack elbowed Clover. “Go ask your parents to get us more of those chocolate chip c
ookies.”
“The stewardess has already kicked us out twice,” Clover said through her shirt. “I’m not going back up there.” Clover rearranged her pillow in an attempt to get comfortable. “Now be quiet so I can sleep.”
“Vero?” Tack asked.
“No,” Vero quickly answered.
“Okay, yeah, fine. Here I am, traveling halfway around the world to help you save the universe or something, and you can’t even ask for a few cookies for me?”
“My mom said they were trying to sleep,” Vero said. “I’ll go up there later.”
“Fine,” Tack huffed.
“But I do appreciate you coming along to help me.” Vero smiled.
“Apparently not enough,” Tack shot back. “And besides, have you figured out how we’re going to convince your parents to take us to Sri Pada? I read it’s a few hours’ drive from Colombo.”
“No, not yet. I’m confident it will all come together when we get there. Even if I have to sneak away to get to the mountain, I will.”
“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Vero nodded. But the truth was, he was nervous. How would they get away? How could he convince his parents they needed to go to Sri Pada? It was a problem Vero needed to solve. But for now, he decided to rest his head against the window and sleep.
After a grueling eight-hour flight followed by a two-and-a-half-hour flight, the plane finally touched down on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Tack, Vero, and Clover walked through the airport like zombies, dragging their luggage behind them. As Vero nearly tripped over his own feet, he noticed his parents had a spring in their step. They also looked completely refreshed. Apparently, they’d slept well in business class.
“If you’re up to it, we could go sightseeing later today after we check into the hotel,” Dennis said.
“That sounds like fun,” Nora answered, almost giddy.
“Sounds like agony,” Clover said. “I need a bed. You didn’t have Tack sleeping on your shoulder halfway around the world!”
Vero had woken up several times during the flights to discover that Tack’s head had slipped onto Clover’s shoulder. He found the sight to be touching. He secretly hoped that one day Tack and Clover could be a couple. It would be nice if, after he was gone, they had one another. Then Vero would feel a lot better about leaving them.
“Sorry, I didn’t know,” Tack told Clover. “But hey, at least I didn’t drool on you.”
“Wrong. My shirt was soaked.” Clover shot him a look.
Tack winced. Vero smiled. He thought they sounded like an old married couple already.
“We’ll let you kids sleep when we get to the hotel,” Dennis said. “Colombo is only about a half hour ride from here.”
A little while later, Vero stared out the window of the cab as it made its way through the streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka’s capital. The city was busy, vibrant. People of a deep-brown complexion navigated their way through the wide, tree-lined streets. Vendors stood at small stalls selling their goods and foods—different seafood and fruits Vero had never seen before. As they rode, Dennis talked about the architecture of the buildings, which ranged from modern to colonial, as well as some of Buddhist and Hindu influence. The cab crossed over many canals, keeping speed with buses and tuk-tuks—three-wheeled, covered motorcycle-taxis. Despite the exhaustion, the foreign sights were riveting to him.
The car pulled up to the hotel. On the horizon, Vero saw nothing but blue—the Indian Ocean. As he stepped out of the cab, he noticed the air felt tropical and humid. The hotel was about eight stories tall. It was a colonial style, yet it appeared to be fairly new. Leafy trees and green grass adorned the grounds. Guests played tennis on a clay court. Beyond that, other guests sunned and swam in an elegant pool.
“This is the life,” Tack said, taking in the sights.
“Let’s get settled, take a nap, then we can explore,” Dennis said as he gave the cab driver his fare.
In the two-bedroom suite, Tack, Vero, and Dennis shared a room, while Clover bunked with Nora. Their nap lasted longer than expected—in fact, it extended into the night, and Vero, Tack, and Clover didn’t wake up until late the next morning. After a breakfast of egg hoppers—a crisp, edible bowl made from rice flour and coconut milk with a cooked egg in the middle—Tack was ready to hit the pool and beach.
“I say we stay by the pool all day, and order room service,” Tack said to everyone.
Vero kicked him under the table. Tack looked over, not sure why he was kicked.
“I’d rather sightsee,” Nora said, turning to Dennis. “Are you working today?”
“Yes, but that shouldn’t stop you from hitting some of the sights.”
“I want to go to Sri Pada,” Vero said.
“Of course you do,” Dennis answered. “But that’s a few hours from here.”
“But we all really want to go there,” Vero pressed.
“Yeah, we do,” Clover said. “Right, Tack?”
“Um, yeah.”
“What exactly is Sri Prada?” Nora said.
“Sri Pada. It’s also called Adam’s Peak. The mountaintop is sacred to four of the world’s major religions,” Dennis explained, and told Nora about the footprint at the top and what it meant to Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and Christians. “It is supposed to be beautiful. In fact, that’s the mountain Clover drew in her journal. The picture was stunning, by the way.”
Clover blushed.
“There are stairs to the top of the mountain. They say the best time to climb is in the early morning so that when you get up there, you can catch the sunrise,” Vero said.
“Sounds dangerous,” Nora said, narrowing her eyes in maternal worry. “Wouldn’t it be completely dark in the early morning?”
“No,” Vero said. “The path is lit all the way up. They say it looks like lights that reach the sky.”
“You wouldn’t have to do your morning run,” Clover added. “Just walking up those steps would be enough exercise for a few days.”
“We’ll see,” Dennis said.
“ ‘We’ll see’ means ‘no,’ ” Clover said, shooting her parents a look.
“Not always,” Dennis said.
“Yes, it does,” Clover said. “Every kid knows that.”
“And there’s a wildlife preserve at the base of the mountain,” Vero said. “With elephants.”
“I do love elephants.” Nora smiled.
“But there’s so much to see around here,” Dennis said. “And I don’t think I could go. I am here to work, after all.”
“Mom could take us,” Vero said.
“I don’t know, guys,” Nora said. “It sounds a bit too adventurous. Plus, I don’t have a guide or speak the language . . .”
“Vero?” a young male voice said, cutting off Nora.
Vero looked up. A complete look of shock came over him as he saw Kane standing before him.
15
LOCAL TOUR GUIDE
What are you doing here?” Vero asked Kane.
“I live here.”
Then Vero remembered. When they had first met, Kane had said he was from an island in the Indian Ocean.
“You two know each other?” Dennis asked with a confused look.
“Um, yeah . . .” Vero stammered, shooting Kane a nervous look.
“We went to school together,” Kane said, cool as a cucumber. “I was a student in a special student-exchange program.”
Not exactly a lie, Vero thought. Although the exchange was from earth to the Ether. Vero noted that Kane spoke English with a different accent from the one he had in the Ether.
“That is so unbelievable! We’re on the other side of the world and Vero runs into a classmate . . . What are the chances?
But you look a little older than Vero,” Nora said.
“I am, Ma’am. I wasn’t in Vero’s grade.”
“I don’t remember you from school,” Tack said, with a furled brow.
Once again, Vero kicked Tack under the table. Tack looked to Vero, realizing he just said something he probably shouldn’t have.
“That’s because we didn’t meet at school,” Kane said. “But I remember you . . . We actually met at an arcade at the mall, but I don’t think Vero introduced us.”
Vero then remembered. When they were competing in the Angel Trials’ final challenge, Vero and his fellow fledglings all wound up in an arcade at the mall by Vero’s house. They had stumbled upon Tack there.
Tack squinted his eyes, thinking hard. “Oh, yeah, I do remember you now.”
“This is Tack,” Vero said to Kane.
“Hi,” Kane said, shaking Tack’s hand.
“And my mom, dad, and sister, Clover,” Vero said as Kane shook hands with Dennis and Nora.
“So nice to meet you all!” Kane said with a winning smile.
“I still can’t get over this . . . It’s such a coincidence! Dennis, can you believe it?” Nora said.
Dennis looked a bit stunned himself, and Vero could tell he was considering how unlikely it would be to find someone you know so far from home. “It’s almost unbelievable.”
“Here in Sri Lanka, we say all things happen for a reason,” Kane said to Dennis with a confident smile. “There is a quote written on the back of my tuk-tuk that reads ‘Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.’ ”
Dennis looked surprised to hear the quote. “Albert Einstein said that, and ironically, I was just thinking about that quote a few weeks ago as I was booking our tickets.”
Clover gazed squarely at Kane. She looked as if she had recognized him. Kane nodded and smiled to her.
“So what are you doing in Sri Lanka?” Kane asked Vero.
The Dragon's Descent Page 14